Alliance

Is it possible to have paradise on Earth, a place where there is no anger, war, or pain? Your immediate reply will probably be “no,” and I’m pretty sure you’re right. However, if you were a citizen of Shalev, you might think otherwise. What is Shalev? Only a fictional city, built after a world that was almost completely destroyed in a nuclear war, a city thought to be a paradise by its citizens. But is that really what it is?In The Alliance by Gerald N. Lund, a young man named Eric Lloyd is transported against his will to the city of Shalev, one of four cities of the Alliance that is ruled by the Major. At first Shalev seems wonderful, but soon Eric discovers the real purpose for the irremovable watches fixed on everyone’s wrists and the silicon chips that the Major implanted in everyone’s brains. Eric and a group of rebels must fight for their freedom, but the Alliance is powerful. How will Eric succeed?This book was gripping. I stayed up until eleven p.m. reading it! Gerald N. Lund measured out the right amounts of adventure and tension, making an irresistible mix that kept you turning the pages steadily. I can just picture him saying, “Hmm, let’s add a tablespoon of action there (a bear fight) . . . that chapter needs a half teaspoon of tension . . . let’s make the Major turn off the sirens . . . there . . .” The ideal concoction for a gripping book!The characters in The Alliance had a certain depth to them. They experienced fear, doubt, joy, and many other emotions with an astonishing vividness, such as when Eric’s mother watched while her daughter was implanted. The characters had a certain humanness to them. Eric wasn’t a superhero, gentle with anyone who wasn’t “the bad guy.” Nicole, a Guardian in the Alliance, wasn’t totally sure that the Alliance was perfect. If Eric were a superhero, and Nicole were totally sure that the Alliance was perfect in every way, they would have seemed fake, and the story would have lost much of its meaning.The Alliance is an absolute must-read. It is a remarkable story with a remarkable message: people must choose to be good. They cannot be forced to behave. But beware! It can be a real fight (almost as bad as Eric’s fight with a bear!) to put this book down. If you'd like to see more youth reviewed books, go to my blog, bookshelfexplorer.

I reread this book multiple times a year. And I will be purchasing some more. I read them as solid books and now read them online. It is much easier to carry my phone around, than to carry several books. I happen to like reading from books better but, due to my age and eyesight that has become almost impossible.

This is the first book that I ever read that I think would actually be classified as a distopian plot. I have fond memories of reading it as a child. It had a bright orange cover and I can't even tell you how many times I read it. Way too many to count! It was my favorite. I was really excited to get to read it again as an adult. I'm pretty sure I liked it as much as an adult as I did as a child.I like everything about this book. I really like the characters. I like Eric and his village. I like the way they are able to make what they used to have or get along without the things they used to have. I like how they all stick together through everything. But their way of life changes overnight when they have visitors from the outside world that actually do have everything the world used to have.I like Nicole too. I like the way she has kind of a child like faith about things. She just believes the things she has been told are true. But when she discovers for herself that those things are wrong, she is able to turn from them and help others to create a better life for everyone.The plot of this one has plenty of action. There's bombs blowing things up, there's danger and violence and it pretty much keeps your mind engaged as it hops from one thing to the next. I like the way I'm able to picture what's happening in my mind and I like to imagine and wonder just what would happen if our world was like this. What would I do? How would I react to certain things?This is one of those books that I just want to jump into the plot and find out the answers to my questions. I would have to say it was one of the pivotal books for me that made me want to be a reader. Make sure you pick it up and see what you think!

I’m amazed by the price and quality of the book!

Typical wear and tear you’d expect for an old book on the dust jacket, but the book itself is in great shape!

I read this book decades ago and with the unease and distrust of the government, in 2021, I remembered this book. A lot to think about. I don't want to lose my freedom, a little bit at a time.

This is a great action-packed clean book. It has a great hero, a dastardly villain, and a satisfying ending. I enjoyed this book as a teen, and enjoyed it again as an adult.

Amazing writing. Simple but powerful premise, asks great questions of its readers without dragging the story down or feeling political.

This book held my interest from the beginning, which seems to be rare these days. The last Gerald Lund book I read was the Work and the Glory series, which I enjoyed. It's good to see he can branch out and create a believable fiction outside of church history.